Amusement device



June 19, 1928. 1,673,999

H. STEINMETZ AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l [k rma/4 5mm;

June 19, 1928.

H. STEIN METZ AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 19, 1928. 1,673,999

H. STEINMETZ AMUS EMENT DEVI C E Filed May 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

June 19, 1928. 1,673,999

H. STEINMETZ AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 4 7 r-rP/j e //M June 19, 1928.

H. STEINMEIZ AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES 7 1,673,999 PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN 's'rEINiaE'rz, OF ROCHESTER, EW YORK, AssxGNOR TO BAT-A-PENY CORPORATION, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed May 28, 1925. Serial NO, 33,568.

mechanism in which the projectiles maybe driven at different speeds or with difierent degrees of force by the player, whereby they are moved to different predetermined stations orpositions in which each is adapted to control means forindicating its arrival at said positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement'device embodying projectile driving and controlling means in cluding a series of play stations, one ofwhich constitutes a preferred goal, from which the projectile will be returned to the player and from others of which it is adapt-- cd to return to the driving means whereby it may againbe driven in an attempt to reach said goal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved amusement device embodying a plurality of play stations having difierent values, with electrically controlled indicating elements for the several stations included. in circuits adapted to be closed by projectiles directed and propelled by means under the control of theplayer, the successful. operation of which is dependent more or less upon theplayers skill in the control of the propelling means.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the draw1ngs:- I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is atop plan view ofth'e same;

Figure 3 is a front elevation with the door in open position, the game board being removed to illustrate the wiring arrangement for lamp circuits;

Figure 4: is a sectional plan taken on the line 4:"-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view in elevation showing the manner of mounting the projectile throwing and controlling mechanism on the inner face of the door, the same being shown at normal inoperative position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation simi lar to the lower portion OfJFigure 5 with the projectile throwing lever moved to extreme release position; s

Figure 7 is an elevation of the lower half of the door shown in Figure 5 withthe pro jectile throwing and circuit controlling means removed;

t Figure 8 is a detail view in elevation, showing the rear face of the front guide plate for the projectile, the contact pins being shown in section and in normal projectile receiving or circuit closing position;

Figure 9 1s a sectional plan taken on line 9"9 of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a sectional plan taken on line 1O 10 of Figure 6';

Figure 11 is an enlargeddetailfragmen tary elevation showing one projectile in re lease position,

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional elevation taken onlines 12*-12 of Figures 1 and 8; v

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary ele vation taken on lines 13 "13 of Figures 5 and 8; c

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken on lines 14 -14 of Figures 5 and 8;

Figure 15 is a sectional plan of the door locking means taken on line lir -15 Of Figure 1, and

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arrangement for the electrical indicating system.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts,

The present invention embodying a game apparatus preferably includes a series of playing stations designed to simulate the game of baseball, the indicating devices for i the several stations or plays being electrically controlled or operated and preferably comprising different colored lamps which beccme lighted when the projectile, driven by suitable incansunder' the control of the player, reaches certain predetermined circuit closing positions. A white light preferably indicates the home-run position for the proectile the latter preferably constituting a penny or a properly constructed disk formed of any suitable conducting material, which when thrown by the driving means to any of the positions provided will form a circuit closing member and effect the lighting of the lamps corresponding to said positions. The first, second and third bases have both blue and red lights, the latter indieating that the player was unsuccessful, in which case the projectile falls into the casing to a point from which it is not accessible. However, when the blue lamps are lighted they each indicate a safe position and the player is allorded another chance, since the mechanism such that upon release of the projectile from any of said safe positions it will return by gravity to the driving member whereby the operator is entitled to additional plays as often as the blue lamps are succe:-;sively lighted. The more important plays of the game of baseball are therefore simulated and ill desired other plays may be added without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The particular means employed for practicing the invention preferably comprises a base 10 supporting a casing 11 including a closure 12 which preferably of the hinged -type and upon which the projectile driving and circuit closing devices are mounted. The white or home-run lamp is indicated at TV while the first, second and third base blue lamp, each indicating a safe play, are shown at B, B and B. respectively. The three red lamps for indicating unsuccessful plays at the first, second and third bases are indicated, respectively, at R, R and R". All of the lamps are projected through a board 20 preferably supported by the lamps and having painted or otherwise formed thereon the outlines 01 a. baseball diamond as indicated at 21 in Figure 1, the white and blue lamps being shown on the bases while the red lamps are disposed adjacent the same.

Current for the lamps is S11)I)ll(i(l by one or more dry batteries, preferably two as indicatcd at the upper ends of the batdun . tcries being disposed between the end Walls of the casing and an inwardly projecting central wall portion Ql as shown in liigura; 3 and 4. suitable clamping members being provided for holding the batteries in position.

The lamps are screwed into suitable sockcts 26 secured upon the rear wall of the casing behind the lamp board 20 as shown in Figure 1:2 and j'n'ovided each with a pair of binding posts 2? engaging contact plates. not shown and by which the wires are connected with the lamps.

The projectiles used with the apparatus. one of which is indicated at arc of a predetermined size and are controlled by the front and rear guide plates 29 and 30 which preferably have extensions projected thru the end wall of the closure to form the projectile receiving opening 31. From this opening the projectile drops to the position indicated at 28 in Figure 5, being directed to said position partly by an inclined laterally projecting rib 32 on the plate 529. The projectile is temporarily held in said position by a pin or projection 33 extended through a slot 3% in the rear plate 30 and connected with a. suitable driving member, preferably in the form of a lever 35 pivoted at 36 upon the plate 30 aml having a linger piece 37 projected through a slot :58 in the closure to permit the lever to be depressed and released by the player at dill'crent points. The lever is normally held in the position shown in Figure 5 by a spring 30 which is relatively strong and serves as an actuating member for the lever whereby the projectile may be driven with dill'ercnt degrees of force or at dili'crent speeds, depend ing upon the point at which the lever is releascd by the player, its lowest release position being indicated in Figure 6 where the projectile is shown resting upon the pin 2523 in a recess it) or the guide plates. A guidibar 11 serves to hold the lever in the desired plane oi operation, the guide bar being suitably secured upon the rear plate 30 as indicated in Figure 5. The lever carries an angularly disposed arm 42 provided for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The projectile is thrown by the lever upwardly between two transparent uidc plates 43 and all, preferably glass, triSPOSLLl in front of the lam) board :20 whereby the lamps and the hold 21 are rendered visible at all times. The glass plates are spaced apart a distance but slightly greater than the thickness of the projectile so that the latter will continue to move in a vertical plane after being discharged by the driving means. The path of the projectile will vary accord ing to the force with which itis thrown, which is dependent upon the point at which the lever or driving member is released as will be understood, the dotted line 44 in Figure 5 indicating by way of example the approximate path of the projectile when moving to one of the circuit closing positions to which it may be driven. In this connection seven predetermined positions are provided. constituting points to which the projectiles may descend by gravity when fired by the player, each comprising a play station, corresponding to one of the lamps or indicating members of the system. These stations are indicated successively from left to right in Figures 5 and G by the characters ll". B B TV. R 13" and R correspondingrespectively to the lamps B, B R, TV, R 13 and R", as shown in Figures 3 and 1.6. The projectiles when at the stations shown successively from left to right in Figure are adapted to engage movable contacts represented by the numerals 13 to 19 inclusive, and at the same time engage fixed contacts 13 to 19 inclusive which are preferably in the form of laterally projecting ribs on the front plate 29, forming guideways corresponding respectively to the indicating stations B B B WV, R B and R The projectiles when released from circuit closing position by movement of the contacts 13 to 19 inclusive from right to-left as viewed in Figure 6 are disposed of in a manner hereinafter explained. The movable contacts 13 to 19 inclusive are carried by: a bar formed of suitable insulating material and mounted upon a slide 46 disposed upon the rear face of the plate 30 and supported by a pair of lugs 47 projecting from said plate into slots 48 of the slide, the latter being held by washers 49 secured by screws 50 as best shown in Figure 14. The slide 46 is normally held in the position shown in Figure 5 by the arm 42 of the driving lever 35, the arm having a rubber orfiber block 51 adapted to prevent excessive noise in operation upon release of the lever from any of its depressed positions. When the lever is depressed the slide 46, bar 45 and contacts 13 to 19 are all moved automatically to the left bya spring 52 having one end connected with the slide and the other with a lug 53 projecting rearwardly from the plate 30. The extent of movement of the slide is determined by the length of the slot 48' which is only slightly greater than the length of the lugs 47 therein, the movement being sufficient to carry the contacts to the left as viewed in Figure 8 far enough to permit the projec tiles 28 to clear the contacts as indicated in Figure 11 so that they may drop to the desired point. It will be seen therefore that the discharge of the projectiles from any one of the circuit closing positions will be effected by the action of the spring 52 iminediately upon movement of the lever 35 to release position. However, since the lever actuating spring 39 is considerably stronger than spring 52 the slide 46 will be returned to the position shown in Figure 5 when struck by the lever arm 42 and in time to return the movable contacts to position to arrest the movement of the projectiles thrown by the lever to one or another of the several stations provided. 9 The path of the projectile will of course be determined to a certain extent by the force with which it is thrown but since it is given an initial movement in a curved path by reason of being moved in contact with the curved or inclined surface 54 of the plate 29 it is more effectively controlled and directed in its movement above the several stations, to which it descends by gravity. In this connection-the surface 55 of the plate 29 may also be relied on to deflect or direct the projectile so as to insure its movement from right to left as viewed in Figure 5 to the farthest as well as the nearest of the stations provided. It

will be seen therefore that the number of home-run or white light positions which the player can make with a given number of shots will depend largely upon his skill in determining the correct position at which to release thedriver, as well as in the manner in which it is released, since a quick or sudden release will afford dilferent results from that obtained through a more gradual release. I

From any of the three red light stations indicated at R R and R in Figure 5, the projectiles,upon being released by the movable contact members are discharged into the casing, being deflected therein thru openings 56 in the rear plate 30by the inclined surfaces 57 as shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.

From any of the three blue light stations B B and E the projectiles when released are adapted to drop upon an inclined track 58 on-the front plate 29 and to roll into engagement with the driving pin 3321s shown in the lower left hand corner of Figure 5, thus affording the player another shot with the same projectile and also additional shots, as long as the projectile is successively returned to the blue light stations.

WVhen the projectile is thrown to the home-run position, indicated by-the white light station W, it isreturned to the player through slot 59, passage 60 and opening 61 in the bottom of the closureto the recess 62 formed in the base 10 of the machine. The passageBO below the plate 29 is closed at the rear by a cover plate 63 spaced from the inner face of the closure by a pair of ribs 64, the cover plate being secured by means of the screws 65 as shown in Figure 7. Slots 67 and 68 are provided in the front and rear guide plates 29 and 30, respectively, to permit movement of the contact pins 13 to '19 inclusive to and from release position.

The circuit wires leading from the contacts 13 to 19 are disposed within a groove 69 formed in the rear face of the sliding bar 45, each wire preferably having its end clamped between a pair of washers 70 secured by the contact pins as shown in Figures 13 and 14. The wires are carried from the left hand end of the slide bar 45 thru a flexible covering 71 as shown in Figure 3 to the lamps, the several circuits of which will be readily understood from the diagra1nmatic arrangement shown in Figure 16.

The glass panels 43 and 44 through which the course of the projectile .is visible are preferably adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the plates 29 and 30, respectively, as shown in Figure 12. Spacing strips 72 serve .to hold the glass plates apart while vertical strips 7 3 are provided for clamping the glass in position as shown in Figures l and 5.

A strip Tl is disposed inwardly of the glass ll at the base thereof and provided with data by which the player may readily locate the ditl'erent stations and understand the values of the same.

The door 12 which is hinged at is provided with a suitable lock as indicated in Figure ll), which preferably comprises a bolt 76 threaded into a lug 77 on the door and having its head 78 provided with an extension Tt) carrying one or more laterally projecting pins St). A key, not shown, is adapted to be inserted in the recess 81 ot the extension and is provided with slots to receive the pins whereby the bolt may be screwed into or out of locking position when desired. It preferred the machine may be further protected by a seal 82, the wire 83 of which is passed through a closure Set for the recess 81 and through the outer end 85 ot the wall surrounding the recess.

\Vhile the machine may be operated without the use of the particular form of indicating elements provided for the several stations to which the projectiles may be driven, or it desired without the use of any electrically controlled indicating elements, I prel'er to employ the different colored lamps in the manner shown in order to attord a more attractive and complete machine, whereby the interest of the player is increased and the value of the machine as an entertaining medium enhanced.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an ainusen'ient device, a plurality of electric circuits, a series of station indicat' ing devices adapted to be controlled by said circuits and releasable projectile driving means for elevating projectiles in a plane to permit them to drop in said plane to points at which they will act to complete the circuits whereby the indicating devices are operated.

In an amusement device, a plurality of: electric circuits, including a series of contacts, a movable holder for said contacts, a series of station indi *ating devices adapted to be controlled by said circuits, manually operable projectile driving means movable for release at different points whereby to drive projectiles at different speeds directly to points at which they will engage said contacts and act to complete the circuits and etl'ect operation of the indicating devices, said driving means normally forming a guard for said holder and means Ior moving the holder to release the projectiles upon movement of the driving means from normal position.

3. In an amusement device, a plurality of normally open electric circuits, a series of station indicating devices adapted to be operated by said circuits, projectile driving means for moving projectiles at diflerent speeds without interruption in a vertical plane to diti'erent circuit closing positions, the particular position to which each projectile is moved depending upon the speed at which it is driven, means for releasing the projectiles from circuit closing positions and means for returning the projectiles to the driving means when released, said releasing means being under the control of the driving means.

l. .111 an amusement device, a plurailty of electric circuits, a series ol station indicating devices adapted to be controlled by said circuits, projectile driving means l'or moving projectiles with dili'erent degrees of force in unobstructed paths to points at which they will act to complete the circuits whereby the indicating devices are operated and transparent guide means for the projectiles through which the indicating devices are visible.

in an amusement device, a plurality of electric circuits, a. series of station indicating devices adapted to be controlled by said circuits, projectile driving means for moving projectiles without interruption to points at which they are adapted to etl'ect control of the circuits whereby the station indicating devices are operated, and means permitting the return of the projectiles to the player from one of said points.

(3. In an amusement device, a plurality of normally open electric circuits having separate circuit closing positions, a series of station indicating devices adapted to be included in said circuits and operable when the circuits are closed, means for driving projectiles at diiterent speeds without. interruption to said closing positions, and transparent guide means for the projectiles through which said indicating devices are visible.

7. In an amusen'icntdevice, a plurality of normally open electric circuits each having a separate circuit closing position, a series of station indicating lamps adapted to be included in said circuits for indicating a plurality of play stations in a single plane, a projectile and means eii'ective to drive the projectile directly in said plane to any one of said circuit closing positions.

8. In an amusement device, a plurality of normally open electric circuits each having a separate circuit closing position, a series of station indicating elements adapted to be included in said circuit a projectile. means adapted to guide the projectile in a plane coincident with said positions and means tor driving the projectile upwardly in said plane to permit it to drop to any one of said posi tions.

9. In an amusement device. a plurality of normally open electric circuits. a. series of station indicating elements adapted to be ineluded in said circuits, a projectile for closing one of said circuits, a driving member for th projectile having a variable throw and means for guiding the projectile in va vertical plane Without interruption to one of said circuit closing positions.

10. In an amusement device, a plurality of normally open electric circuits, a station indicating element for each circuit adapted to be operated upon closing the circuit, a projectile, and driving means for selectively moving the projectile with a variable degree of force-without interruption upwardly in a plane to permit it to drop in said plane to different circuit closing positions whereby to effect operation of the-station indicating elements.

11. In an amusement device, a plurality of normall open electric circuits each having a predetermined circuit closing position, a station mdicatmg element for each circuit adapted to be operated upon closing the circuit, a projectile, driving means for selectively moving the projectile with a variable degree of force whereby it will be driven to one of said circuit closing positions and means permitting the projectile to return to the driving means fromone of said positions.

12. In an amusement device, a casing, a plurality of electric circuits each provided with a separate control station, an indicating element within the casing for each cir cuit adapted to be operated thereby, a projectileadapted when moved to any of said stations to effect operation of the indicating clement corresponding thereto, driving means for throwing the projectile whereby it is. adapted to drop by chance to one of said control stations, means whereby the projectile is returned to the driving means when released at one of said stations and means adapted to cause the projectile to return to the player when released at another of said stations.

13. In an amusement device, a casing, a

plurality of electric circuits each provided with a separate control station, an indicating element within the casing for each c1rcuit adapted to be operated thereby, a projectile adapted when moved to any oi said stations. to effect operation of the indicating element corresponding thereto, driving means for throwing the pro ectile whereby it is adapted to drop by chance to one oi said control stations, means whereby the projectile is returned to the driving means when released at one of said stations, means adapted to cause the projectile to return to the player when released at another of said stations, and means adapted to effect d1scharge of the projectile into the casing when released at another of said stations.

14. In an amusement device, a cas 1ng, a plurality of normally. open electric circuits each having a separate control station including a fixed contact, a movable contact and an indicating element operable when the circuit is closed through said contacts, a carrier for said movable contacts, a projectile, manu ally releasable driving means for the projectile having a variable throw whereby the projectile may be moved to either of said con trol stations to complete the circuit through the contacts thereoi', and means under the,

projectile between,- said guides, said driving means having a variable throw whereby the projectile may be moved to complete either 01' said circuits through engagement with the contacts thereof.

16. In an. amusement device, a plurality of electric circuits each having a separate control station including a fixed contact, a movable contact and an indicating element operable when the circuit is closed through said contacts, a carrier for said movable contacts, aprojectile, spaced members for guiding the projectile in a vertical plane and means for driving the projectile between said spaced members without interruption to one of said stations.

17.. In an amusement device, a plurality ofelectric. eircuitseach having a separate control station including a fixed contact, a movable contact, and an indicating element operable when the circuit is closed through said contacts, a carrier for said movable contacts, spaced guides above said stations, a projectile, a spring controlled operating lever for the projectile adapted ,to drive it between said guides to one of said stations, and means under the control of the tions, means effective to return the projec tiles to the operator from one ofsaid stations, and means by which the projectiles are returned tothe driving means from another of said stations.

, means.

20. In an amusement device, a casing,

projectile control means within the casing embodying plate members having a series of vertically disposed projectile receiving and discharge passages, one of which is adapted to discharge the projectiles into the casing and another to direct them to the exterior of the casing, means for driving the pro ect les in a vertical plane directly to said receiving passages, and releasable means for temporarily holding the projectiles within said receiving passages.

21. In an amusement device, a casing, projectile control means within the caslng embodying plate members having a series of vertically disposed projectile receiving and discharge passages, one of which is adapted to discharge the projectiles into the casing and another to direct them to the exterior of the casing, means for driving the projectiles in a vertical plane directly to said receivingpassages, releasable means for temporarily holding the projectiles within said receiving passages, and means for indicating the arrival of the projectiles in said passages.

22. In an amusement device, a casing, manually controlled projectile driving means therein, projectile control means within the casing embodying plate members having a series of projectile receiving and discharge passages, one of which is adapted to discharge the projectiles into the casing, and another to return them to the operator while another is adapted to return the projectiles to the driving means.

In an amusement device. a casing, manually controlled projectile driving means therein having an operating portion projecting from the casin plate members Within the casing forming a plurality of projectile receiving stations, vertically disposed guide members for directing projectiles propelled by said driving means to said stations, releasable means for temporarily arresting the projectiles at said stations adapted to automatically move to release position upon movement of the driving means from normal inoperative position, means for directing the projectiles into the casing from certain of said stations, and means effective to return the projectiles to the driving means from other of saidstations.

24. In an amusen'ient device, a plurality of normally open electric circuits having a. se rics of illuminating elements for indicating a plurality oi play stations, a projectile for closing each of said circuits when moved to different predetermined positions, manually operable driving means for moving the projectile directly to circuit closing posit ons, said driving means being releasable at differentpoints whereby to vary the circuit closing position to which the projectile is driven and means for returning the projectile directly from one or more of said positions to said driving means.

25. In an amusement device, a plurality of normally open electric circuits having a series of illuminating elements for indicating a plurality of play stations, a projectile adapted to close each of said circuits when moved to predetermined positions with respect thereto. a releasable spring operated driver for the projectile having a variable throw whereby to vary the circuit closing position to which the projectile is driven, and means under the control of said spring operated driver for releasing the projectiles from certain of said stations.

26. In an amusement device, means forming a plurality of play stations adapted for receiving a projectile, spaced guide members for the projectile disposed vertically above said stations, a driving device for the projectile having a variable throw and adapted in each driving operation to direct the projectile upwardly between said guide members in a path inclined to the vertical whereby the projectile will have a horizontal component movement throughout its travel to the different stations and means effective to return the projectile from one of the stations to said driving device.

27. In an amusement device, an electric current. supply source, a plurality of normally open electric circuits having a series of illuminating elements for indicating a plurality of play stations located in a single vertical plane, a projectile adapted to close each of said circuits when moved to a predetermined position with respect to said stations, spaced guide members for maintaining the projectile in said plane unobstructed in its movement to said stations and a driving device for the projectile having a variable throw and adapted in each driving operation to direct the projectile upwardly between said guide members in a path inclined to the vertical whereby said projectile will have a horizontal component movement throughout its travel to the different circuit closing positions.

HERMAN STEINMETZ. 

